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Michigan Baseball Looks to 2020

6/29/2019

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By: Alex Drain

On Wednesday night, the Michigan Wolverines saw their 2019 baseball season come to a close with a tough loss in the sudden death game 3 of the College World Series at the hands of the Vanderbilt Commodores. Still, it was the first 50 win season for the program since 1987, the first CWS trip since 1984, and the first time making it out of the Regionals since 2007, a surreal run that no one saw coming and redefined the idea of what Erik Bakich could achieve at Michigan. Out of the ashes of a heartbreaking finish to a miraculous season for Michigan Baseball comes the most interesting question at hand: can Michigan Baseball keep this up? And most importantly, what does the 2020 season look like? 


That’s what we’re going to look at today: 

Who is leaving? 

Michigan is going to lose a fair number of seniors, as well as other players to the MLB. The notable seniors who are out the door are Miles Lewis, Jimmy Kerr, Blake Nelson, and Ako Thomas, three important pieces of the nine man lineup for Michigan in the postseason. To the MLB, Michigan is almost certain to lose Karl Kauffman, Tommy Henry, and Jordan Brewer, and probably reliever Jack Weisenburger as well. That’s a lot of names. In particular, it’s Michigan’s #1 and #2 starter, #3, #4, and #9 hitters, and then two complementary pieces in Lewis and Weisenburger. 

Who is coming in? 

Michigan is bringing a 13 recruit class for the 2019-20 school year that ranks 39th nationally but 1st in the Big Ten, according to Perfect Game. Not quite as murderous as the famed 2017 class (22nd nationally, among the best ever for the B1G) that was the backbone of this CWS run, but still a very respectable group for northern standards. The biggest get, and the only top 100 player that Michigan signed, is Damone Hale (10/10 on PG), a shortstop/outfielder from California. While I don’t have a Perfect Game account to get all the nitty gritty scouting on him, from his test scores at the camps, he appears to be hyper athletic but is also a good hitter. Jimmy Obertop (9.5/10 on PG) is the next guy to know, a catcher/first baseman whose profile appears to be a guy that is coming to Michigan with the sole purpose of hitting the baseball. There’s also Brandon Lawrence (9/10) who is a middle infielder that seems to profile more as an all-around type player, as well as Antonio “Tito” Flores (8.5/10), who was among the top in-state players, a third baseman/outfielder who doesn’t have a great athletic profile but seems like he can hit and throw. 

Michigan brings in very few pitchers, just Jacob Denner (8.5/10) a lefty from New Jersey who doesn’t appear to have a great fastball but likely has strong secondary stuff, and Colin Czajkowski (good luck pronouncing that), who is not a national name but was one of the top HS players in the state of Michigan. Beyond those big names, there’s Jack Blomgren’s brother Dan, Joey Velazquez, who is also a football player, and a few other assorted dudes. 

So what does the team look like? 

The rotation is the most important question, given how pitching carried the team this year. Jeff Criswell will enter his junior season and is going to be the ace of the staff, likely on his way to a top 100 draft pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. Beyond him, Michigan is banking on Ben Dragani getting healthy. Dragani was a full-time starter in 2018 who posted an excellent 2.76 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP as a freshman before undergoing Tommy John surgery in the offseason and missing this entire campaign. If he can get back to that form, he and Criswell could be an excellent 1-2 punch at the top of the staff. The most obvious #3 option is also coming off of injury, in the form of Steven Hajjar. Hajjar was the crown jewel of Michigan’s recruiting class entering this season who had to miss the entire year due to injury. (Side note: it’s crazy to imagine how good this Michigan team could’ve been with both Dragani and Hajjar healthy). Hajjar, a 6’4” lefty with a 93 mph fastball, was just outside the top 100 nationally, a 10/10 rated prospect on Perfect Game. If he performs like his prospect profile, and Dragani returns to 2018 form, then this pitching staff might not miss a beat compared to 2019. But those are sizable “ifs”.... 

Beyond those options in the rotation, obviously freshman Jacob Denner could be an option, or stretching out a bullpen arm like Isaiah Paige could work too. Speaking of the bullpen, Michigan returns just about everyone from that unit which was verrrry shaky this season. The good news is that it was young, and an offseason to work with pitching coach extraordinaire Chris Fetter should do some of the young arms good, like Willie Weiss, Paige, and Angelo Smith in particular. If the starting pitching takes a step back, then the relief staff may be asked to pick up some slack for Michigan. 

As for the hitters, there are a lot of moving parts. The most obvious substitution is that Riley Bertram will take over at second base for Ako Thomas. Bertram, a freshman this year, was excellent in limited work when Blomgren went down in the Corvallis Regional of the NCAA Tournament. Plugging Bertram in may honestly be an upgrade from Thomas, but at the very least, it’s a logical move that Michigan fans will feel good about. After that, you have to think Dominic Clementi is an option to replace Jordan Brewer in RF if he can re-find his 2018 form. Clementi was an everyday starter and First Team All-B1G in 2018 with excellent stats who suffered a tough offseason injury and was never able to return to form in 2019, also being Wally Pipp’d by Jordan Brewer in the process. Clementi 2018 is not much of a downgrade from Brewer other than speed and power and would be a welcome addition to the 2020 squad. Clementi 2019 is not playable, plain and simple. 

Another option for RF is obviously Damone Hale if the highly touted freshman is ready to make an impact on day 1. While he’s not marketed at the position, it’s also possible that Hale could play 3B or 2B (with Bertram then moving to 3B), because if Hale’s performance in the Maize and Blue can live up to his recruiting profile, he will be the type of player who can’t be taken out of the lineup for any reason. Obviously some of the other freshmen are options too: Obertop could play first base if he’s ready to perform, Flores could fill in at 3B, as could Breden Lawrence. Many of the questions surrounding the Michigan lineup simply come down to one overarching question: how many of the incoming freshmen hitters are ready to play at an acceptable level and how soon? It’s also not out of the question that Jordan Nwogu learns a position and a hole at DH opens, or that someone could jump out of nowhere, maybe Harrison Salter seizes a spot somewhere other than catcher? 

There are obviously a lot of questions, but bringing Blomgren/Nwogu/Criswell/entire bullpen back gives Michigan a nice floor, and with a good recruiting class + a few studs back from injury joining the team for 2020, there are legitimate reasons for optimism. Overall, it is a team that will look different in a number of ways from the 2019 squad, but it should still be among the top teams in the Big Ten for another year in a row. 
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Way Too Early 2020 Player Rankings

6/25/2019

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Andrew Miller, Lead Draft Analyst at WCBN Sports

​


Quarterbacks

    Most Hype: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
    Best Traits: Justin Herbert, Oregon
    Most NFL Ready: Justin Herbert, Oregon
    Best Arm: Jacob Eason,Washington
    Most Accurate: Jake Fromm, Georgia 
    Best Runner: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
    Biggest Question Mark: Shea Patterson, Michigan (Arm Strength)
    Personal Pinned Sleeper: Feleipe Franks, Florida

1. Justin Herbert, Oregon
2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
3. Jake Fromm, Georgia
4. Jacob Eason Washington
5. Feleipe Franks, Florida
6. K.J. Costello, Stanford
7. Nate Stanley QB, Iowa
8. Jake Bentley QB, South Carolina
9. Hunter Johnson QB, Northwestern
10. McKenzie Melton, UCF

Running Backs

    Most Hype: Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
    Best Traits: Travis Etienne, Clemson
    Most NFL Ready: Travis Etienne, Clemson
    Best 3rd Down Back: D’Andre Swift, Georgia
    Best Speed: D’Andre Swift, Georgia
    Best Power: A.J. Dillon, BCU
    Best Potential: Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
    Personal Pinned Sleeper: A.J. Dillon, BCU
    Biggest Question Mark: Cam Akers, FSU

1. Travis Etienne, Clemson
2. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
3. D’Andre Swift, Georgia
4. Najee Harris, Alabama
5. A.J. Dillon, Boston College
6. J.K. Dobbins, OSU
7. Lamical Perine, Florida
8. Alex Barnes, Kansas State
9. Cam Akers, FSU
10. Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt

Wide Receivers

    Most Hype: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
    Best Traits: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
    Most NFL Ready: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
    Best Outside Receiver: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
    Best Slot Receiver: Demetris Robertson, Georgia 
    Best Hands: Tee Higgins, Clemson
    Best Route Runner: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
    Best Speed: CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
    Best Potential: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
    Biggest Question Mark: Tarik Black, Michigan (Injuries)
    Personal Pinned Sleeper: Tarik Black, Michigan

1. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
2. Tee Higgins, Clemson
3. Laviska Shenault, Colorado
4. Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan
5. Ceedee Lamb, Oklahoma
6. Tylan Wallace, Ok St.
7.Collin Johnson, Texas
8. Demetris Harris, Georgia
9. Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
10. Tarik Black, Michigan

Tight End

Biggest Hype: Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
    Best Traits: Albert Okwuegbunam
    Most NFL-Ready: Colby Parkinson, Stanford
    Best Slot Tight End: Albert Okwuegbunam
    Best Hands: Albert Okwuegbunam
    Best Route-Runner: Grant Calcaterra, Oklahoma
    Best Blocker: Chase Allen, Iowa State
    Biggest Question Mark: Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri (injury)
    Personal Pinned Sleeper: Harrison Bryant, FAU


1. Albert Okwuegbunam, Mizzou
2. Grant Calcaterra, Oklahoma
3. Mitch Wilcox, USF
4. Jacob Breeland, Oregon
5. Chase Allen, Iowa State
6. Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt
7. Sean McKeon, Michigan
8. Daniel Imatorbhebhe, USC
9. Kemari Averett, Louisville
10. Harrison Bryant, FAU

Offensive Tackles 

Biggest Hype: Walker Little, Stanford
    Best Traits: Walker Little, Stanford
    Most NFL Ready: Alaric Jackson, Iowa
    Best Run-Blocker: Andrew Johnson, Georgia
    Best Pass Blocker: Walker Little, Stanford
    Best Potential: Trey Adams, Washington 
    Biggest Question Mark: Trey Smith (Injury)
    Personal Pinned Sleeper: Austin Jackson, USC

1. Walker Little, Stanford
2. Alaric Jackson, Iowa
3. Andrew Thomas, Georgia 
4. Trey Adams, Washington
5. Trey Smith, Tennessee 
6. Mekhi Becton, Louisville
7. Austin Jackson, USC
8. Calvin Throckman, Oregon
9. Thaylor Munford, OSU
10. Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn

Offensive Guards

    Biggest Hype: Tommy Kraemer, Notre Dame
    Best Traits: Shane Lemieux, Oregon
    Most NFL Ready: Shane Lemieux, Oregon
    Best Pass Blocker: Shane Lemieux, Oregon
    Best Run Blocker: Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
    Best Potential: Shane Lemieux, Oregon
    Biggest Question Mark: Tremayne Anchrum, Clemson
    Personal Pinned Sleeper: Bryce Meeker, Iowa State

1. Shane Lemieux, Oregon
2. Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
3. Tommy Kraemer, Notre Dame
4. John Simpson, Clemson
5. Jon Runyan, Michigan
6. Ben Bredeson, Michigan 
7. Ben Cleveland, Georgia 
8. Bryce Meeker, Iowa State
9. Logan Stenberg, Kentucky
10. Tremayne Anchrum, Clemson

Centers

    Best Traits: Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
    Most NFL Ready: Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
    Best Run Blocker: Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
    Best Pass Blocker: Jake Hanson, Oregon
    Best Potential: Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
    Biggest Question Mark: Nick Harris, Washington
    Personal Pinned Sleeper: Nick Harris, Washington

1. Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
2. Jake Hanson, Oregon
3. Darryl Williams, Miss St.
4. Zach Shackelford, Texas
5. Cohl Cabral, ASU
6. Matt Hennessy, Temple
7. Gage Cervenka, Clemson
8. Kenny Cooper, Georgia Tech
9. Toa Lobendahn, USC
10. Nick Harris, Washington


Defensive Line 

    Biggest Hype: Derrick Brown, Auburn
    Best Traits: LaBryan Ray, Alabama
    Most NFL Ready: Derrick Brown, Auburn
`    Best Run Stopper: Raekwon Davis, Alabama
    Best Pass Rusher: Derrick Brown DT, Auburn
    Best Nose Tackle: Raekwon Davis, Alabama
    Best 3 Tech: Derrick Brown DT, Auburn
    Best Potential: LaBryan Ray, Alabama
    Biggest Question Mark: LaBRyan Ray, Alabama
    Personal Pinned Sleeper: Raequan Williams, MSU

1. Derrick Brown, Auburn
2. Raekwon Davis, Alabama
3. Rashard Lawrence, LSU
4. Mustafa Johnson, Colorado
5. LaBryan Ray, Alabama
6. Leki Fotu, Utah
7. Nick Coe, Auburn
8. Isaiahh Loudermilk, Wisconsin
9. Raequan Williams, MSU
10. Marvin Wilson, FSU

EDGE RUSHERS

    Most Hype: Chase Young, OSU
Most NFL Ready:Chase Young, OSU
Best Traits: Chase Young, OSU
Best Run Stopper: A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
Best Pass Rusher: Chase Young, OSU
Best Potential: Chase Young, OSU
Biggest Question Mark: Jabari Zuniga, Florida
Personal Pinned Sleeper: Kenny Willekes, MSU

1. Chase Young, OSU
2. A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
3. Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State
4. Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
5. K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU
6. Kenny Willekes, MSU
7. Terrell Lewis, Alabama
8. Curtis Weaver, BSU
9. Bradley Anae, Utah
10. Khalid Kareem, Notre Dame

Linebackers

    Best Traits: Dylan Moses, Alabama
    Best Traits: Dylan Moses, Alabama
    Most NFL-Ready: Dylan Moses, Alabama 
    Best Run-Stopper: Dylan Moses, Alabama
    Best Pass Coverage: Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
    Best Pass Rusher: Dylan Moses, Alabama
    Biggest Question Mark: Joe Bachie, MSU
Personal Pinned Sleeper: Khaleke Hudson, Michigan 

1. Dylan Moses, Alabama
2. Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
3. Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
4. Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
5. Troy Dye, Oregon
6. Shaquille Quarterman, Miami
7. Khaleke Hudson, Michigan
8. David, Woodward, Utah
9. David Reese II, Florida
10. Joe Bachie, MSU

Corners
    
    Most Hype: C.J. Henderson, Florida
    Best Traits: C.J. Henderson, Florida
    Most NFL-Ready: C.J. Henderson, Florida
    Best Slot Corner: Lavert Hill, Michigan
    Best Man Coverage: C.J. Henderson, Florida
    Best Zone Coverage:Trevon Diggs, Alabama
    Biggest Question Mark: Jeffrey Okudah, OSU
    Personal Pinned Sleeper: Bryce Hall, Virginia

1. C.J. Henderson, Florida
2. Kristian Fulton, LSU
3. Trevon Diggs, Alabama
4. Jeffrey Okudah, OSU
5. Lavert Hill, Michigan
6. Bryce Hall, Virginia
7. A.J. Terrell, Clemson
8. Julian Blackmon, Utah
9. Mark Gilbert, Duke
10. Marco Wilson, Florida


Safeties
    Most Hype: Grant Delpit, LSU
    Best Traits: Grant Delpit, LSU
    Most NFL-Ready:Grant Delpit, LSU
    Best Coverage: Xavier McKinney, Alabama
    Best Strong Safety: Grant Delpit, LSU
    Best Free Safety: Xavier McKinney, LSU
    Best Hybrid: Grant Delpit, LSU
    Best Run Stopper: Grant Delpit, LSU
    Biggest Question Mark: Khaleke Hudson, Michigan/Isaiah Simmons, Clemson 
    Personal Pinned Sleeper: Richie Grant, UCF

1. Grant Delpit, LSU
2. Xavier McKenney, Alabama
3. Richard LeCounte, Georgia
4. Jordan Fuller, OSU
5. Stanford Samuels, FSU
6. Richie Grant, UCF
7. Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame
8. David Dowell, MSU
9. Brandon Jones, Texas
10. Khaleke Hudson, Michigan/Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

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Michigan Wolverines College World Series Primer

6/13/2019

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Why yes, that is Erik Bakich expressing happiness. From Detroit News
By: Nick Hornburg

For the first time in forever (1984, to be exact), the Michigan Wolverines are headed to the College World Series in Omaha. After a late season swoon cost them the Big Ten regular season title, and they literally ran out of pitchers in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals, Erik Bakich’s men have finally broken through, and now the real fun begins. Michigan opens play on Saturday against a familiar (and intimidating) foe, as they take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders. 8-seed Texas Tech swept the Wolverines in Lubbock back in March, and they will be favoured against the unseeded Michigan, but with the way things have gone in the last two weeks, expect this Michigan team to at least put up a fight in Omaha. For those of you about to watch this team for the first time, or are simply looking for a primer on this team, here’s who you’re about to see take the field in Omaha.

42 Jordan Nwogu, Sophomore, DH

The self-proclaimed Scariest Leadoff Hitter in College Baseball has looked an awful lot like a pro prospect in his Ann Arbor career. After coming out of nowhere in his freshman season to hit .349 and steal 11 bases, Nwogu has been outstanding in his first season in the leadoff spot, hitting .327 against an on-base percentage of .442, while managing 12 home runs and driving in 43 runs, and swiping 16 bases along the way, enough to earn him first-team All-Big Ten honors. Nwogu has flourished in the leadoff spot with Erik Bakich’s hyper-aggressive offensive tendencies, and it has showed in the postseason, delivering a walk-off double against Illinois that has sparked his team’s hot streak, and is expected to be a Big Ten Player of the Year candidate next season.

7 Jesse Franklin, Sophomore, CF

After a torrid freshman season in which he was a Freshman All-American, Jesse Franklin fell back to Earth a bit as a sophomore, hitting .254 (.327 as a freshman) to go with 12 home runs and 49 RBI. Franklin’s power, mixed with his high walk rate (.384 OBP) and good defense in center field, saw him named a third team All-Big Ten player. This was Franklin’s first season playing center field at the college level as well, as he started at first base in 2018.

22 Jordan Brewer, Junior, RF

The Lincoln Trail Community College transfer had a season to remember. The junior set the Big Ten on fire, hitting .338 with 12 home runs and 55 RBI, while stealing 24 bases and playing outstanding defense in right field with a staggering 11 outfield assists, an absolutely phenomenal season in which Brewer earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and the title of 2019 Big Ten Player of the Year. It was a season in which Brewer also potentially earned himself quite a bit of money, as he was drafted 106th overall by the Houston Astros in the 2019 MLB draft, and he is expected to sign at the conclusion of the postseason.

15 Jimmy Kerr, Senior, 1B

Four months ago, Jimmy Kerr was a largely irrelevant utility infielder who was pressed into a starting role due to attrition more than anything (or so we thought). Last weekend, the top-ranked team in the country was too scared to pitch to him. The third-generation Michigan baseball player has been a revelation, hitting .269 on the season with 12 home runs, including 4 in the first regional of the NCAA tournament alone, and 56 RBI. In his final season in Ann Arbor, Kerr did not miss a single game and earned third-team All-Big Ten honors, and was drafted in the 33rd round of the MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers.

2 Jack Blomgren, Sophomore, SS

“If only he could figure it out with the bat…”
WCBN callers said that many times throughout 2018 in reference to Jack Blomgren. Well, he figured it out with the bat. In his sophomore campaign, Blomgren hit .309 (93 points higher than 2018), to pair with usual outstanding defense at shortstop, and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. The Milton, Wisconsin native is a bit battered right about now, having broken his finger sliding into second base against UCLA on Sunday (don’t worry, it was his glove hand), though it is worth noting that he never left the game.

10 Blake Nelson, Senior, 3B

Blake Nelson had perhaps the most nondescript season of anybody on the team. The senior hit .299 with 35 RBI, though unfortunately he will probably be remembered most for his defensive play this season, which has been a bit glitchy from time to time. He has been great charging ground balls at the corner, but his throwing has been wayward at times and he’s had some noteworthy gaffes with the glove deeper in the infield. Nonetheless, Nelson is still a plus player, and a key contributor near the bottom of the order.

5 Christian Bullock, Junior, LF

Christian Bullock is in an interesting position. The outfielder had a strong 2018 (.262 average, .328 OBP, 18 stolen bases), but was relegated to the bench in 2019 with the emergence of Jordan Brewer. However, Bullock was inserted into the lineup in the Big Ten Tournament in place of the injured Jordan Brewer, and he did well enough that when Brewer returned in the NCAA regional, Bullock stayed in the lineup, moving over to left field and displacing the struggling Miles Lewis. Bullock made a fairly noteworthy mistake in left field in the super regional, but his fielding range is impeccable and his speed on the basepaths will always be a danger. For these reasons, I expect him to stay in the lineup, but don’t be surprised if Lewis gets mixed in at least a little bit.

0 Joe Donovan, Sophomore, C

Joe Donovan is a tossup. At his best, he has been a great clutch hitter and has an absolute cannon for an arm behind the plate (advice to Texas Tech: don’t try to steal on Joe Donovan...ever). On the other hand, he leads the Big Ten in passed balls by a wide margin (20 on the season). Donovan is a better hitter than his .245 average would suggest, as he has come through in big moments this season (most notably hitting a walk off three-run home run against Rutgers in April), but Donovan is perhaps the weakest hitter in this lineup, which says more about the Michigan lineup than it does about Donovan (yes, the guy with eight home runs and 36 RBI is the weakest hitter in the lineup).

4 Ako Thomas, Senior, 2B

It’s beginning to feel like Ako Thomas has been around for about eight years. The diminutive second baseman was once one of the best leadoff hitters in the country, hitting .354 and stealing 23 bases in 2017. Unfortunately, the years of wear caught up to Thomas in the first half of the season, as he had a poor first few months of his senior season. However, he has rallied, finishing with a .262 average and despite a few recent glitches, his defense is still serviceable at second base, and Erik Bakich has spoken highly of his leadership in the locker room. Ako Thomas has had a strong postseason so far, and he’s played in a few games now that could have been his last as a Wolverine had they gone the other way. The most recent one being the rubber match with UCLA on Sunday, when he batted in the tying and go-ahead runs that ultimately proved to be the difference, yet another of the numerous times Thomas has come through in big moments throughout his career. Now he gets a well-deserved encore in Omaha, a fitting end to a great career.

Others
3 Miles Lewis, Senior, LF
11 Harrison Salter, Sophomore (RS), LF
12 Riley Bertram, Freshman, 2B
13 Dominic Clementi, Junior, OF

37 Karl Kauffmann, Junior, RHP

The first head in the three-headed dragon that is Michigan’s starting rotation; Karl Kauffmann took a big step in his junior year, accruing a 10-6 record with a 2.59 ERA and 101 strikeouts, while averaging more than six innings per start. This was enough to earn himself third-team All-Big Ten Honors, and that was before the postseason, in which he has been unbelievable. In three postseason starts, Kaufmann has given up four runs total, while pitching at least eight innings in all three starts. This will likely be Kauffmann’s last round in the Maize and Blue, as he was drafted 77th overall in the MLB draft by the Colorado Rockies.

17 Jeff Criswell, Sophomore, RHP

A long reliever as a freshman in 2018, injuries in the starting rotation forced Criswell into a starting role in 2019, and all he did was earn first-team All-Big Ten Honors. Criswell compiled a 7-1 record with a 2.74 ERA and 99 strikeouts, and it bears reminding that this guy wasn’t even supposed to be a starter. Criswell started on Sundays during the regular season, but has earned himself a promotion to the second starter in the postseason, and while he hasn’t been indecipherable the way Kauffmann has, Criswell went 7 innings and struck out 10 batters in the must-win game against Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament.

47 Tommy Henry, Junior, LHP

Through the first week of April, Tommy Henry was a top 5 starter in the country. For the last month of the season, he was not. Henry’s decline at the end of the season was as bizarre as it was unexpected, but he has turned it on again in the postseason, putting the finishing touches on his reverse bell curve of a season with a 10-5 record and a 3.54 ERA with 117 strikeouts going into Omaha. However, Henry came alive when it counted on Sunday, pitching 7 innings and giving up two runs despite a trip to the hospital the day prior with a bout of flu (feel free to make references to Michael Jordan, we here at WCBN sure have), sending Michigan to Omaha. Like Kauffmann, this will almost certainly be the last we see of Tommy Henry in a Michigan uniform, as he was drafted 74th overall in the MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

14 Ben Keizer, Junior, LHP

The happiest man in College Baseball pitched two big innings on Sunday to finish off UCLA and book Michigan’s return to Omaha. One of the few contact pitchers on the staff, Keizer carries a 4.01 ERA in 33 appearances in 2019. The big lefty setup man has been decidedly up and down throughout the season, but he had two strong performances against UCLA at the weekend, in which he has looked to be an excellent half of what is a talented eighth inning pairing.

25 Isaiah Paige, Freshman (RS), RHP

Sometimes surprises are a good thing. Isaiah Paige had to redshirt in 2018 due to a torn ACL, so at the dawn of this season, not many had heard of him. Paige delivered, repeatedly, as he was Michigan’s most consistently reliable reliever all season, finishing with an ERA of 2.98 in 25 appearances, and really serving as an anchor for the Michigan bullpen. He’s held up well more often than not, but he’s pitched a lot of baseball in the last two weeks, and he’s had some shaky moments, probably a product of fatigue more than anything.

*-If you haven’t already, check out Isaiah Paige’s offseason interview with Lucas Vargas and Adam Rich of WCBN Sports.

20 Willie Weiss, Freshman, RHP

Willie Weiss is one of the few relievers out there who can reliably strike fear into the hearts of both coaches in a game simultaneously. One one hand, the freshman All-Big Ten closer has an ERA of 3.08 and has struck out 50 batters in 26 appearances, and his full repertoire of pitches is really something. On the other hand, it’s really a coin flip whether he has command of his pitches, as he also has 32 walks in 26 appearances, and when he doesn’t have it, he really doesn’t. He had a good freshman regular season, but his postseason performances have generally been memorable for the wrong reasons. Michigan has been able to cover for him thus far, but in Omaha, your whole team needs to be in top form, and Weiss is going to be vital. If he’s on, he can close out a game without much worry. If he isn’t, grab the defibrillator.

Others
40 Angelo Smith, Sophomore, LHP
29 Blake Beers, Sophomore, RHP
35 Walker Cleveland, Freshman, LHP
48 Jack Weisenburger, Junior, RHP

Be sure to tune in to WCBN Sports’ coverage of Michigan Baseball at the College World Series. Austin Falco, Daniel Thompson, Jeremy Parks and Andy Laidlaw will be there for as long as Michigan is. You can follow their adventures in Omaha on Youtube, Twitter and Soundcloud.
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